The Session Man Review – Celebrates Gifted Pianist and Virtuoso Nicky Hopkins
- Details
- Category: Haute This Issue
- Published on Wednesday, 19 November 2025 12:53
- Written by Janet Walker
The Session Man, from Torch Entertainment, celebrates of the musical genius and prowess of gifted session man Nicky Hopkins, who in his short life contributed on over 250 albums, and played for the most well-known British bands.
The documentary weaves together the story of Hopkins, beginning with an interview in 1991, where he explains his introduction to the piano. He describes that as a toddler, even unable to reach the keys, he toddled over, reached up and was able to hit the piano keys, which led to his mom encouraging his gift. He eventually attended the Royal Albert Hall of Music and trained as a classic pianist.
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The documentary also sets the scene, it's the 1960s in the UK, and to hear it told, it was a glorious time to be in the UK. The golden age of rock and roll was on the horizon, and the music that would transcend time and really transform the world of rock and roll was beginning to be realized.
Hopkins was just beginning to be known when he became deathly ill. Hospitalized with what was Chron's disease, which would plague him for the rest of his life. He eventually recovered and began to play sessions. He was genuinely gifted, and as the documentary progresses Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards explains that he would often end up in the studio with half a song, and say to Nicky, can you fix this?
Narrating the documentary, BBC Radio's Bob Harris, who hosts Sounds of the 70s, and who takes us on a rock and roll trip through time. He also stated, "Nicky Hopkins' contributions made him rock and roll's greatest session man."
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As a session man, Hopkins, would play a gig and wait for the next one. His talent was so far beyond his peers, that at this time, in the late 1960s, he was suddenly the man, and as we see, he played on all four of the greatest British band in history, The Kinks, The Who, The Rolling Stones and The Beatles, which is called the Grand Slam for session men. However, when The Beatles broke up, Hopkins again achieved a Grand Slam and played on all four of the former Beatles solo albums.
As the documentary continues, the vast discography of records and musical hits that included his work is astonishing. Coming into his own in the golden age of rock and roll, he admitted in his interviews that he estimates that he took every drug known to man.
As his resume began to grow, he decided he wanted to move to America, which tracks the second half of his career, and he begins working for Jefferson Airplane, Jerry Garcia, and Joe Cocker. The rock and roll music scene seems to be live up to the historical motto of 'sex, drugs, and rock and roll.' And The Session Man explains Nicky's addiction to heroin nearly cost him his life, and if it weren't for the intervention of a fellow musician, Chick Corea, he would be dead.
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The documentary doesn't go into depth of his pre or post rehab experiences, his wife Moira Hopkins simply explains, and Hopkins also explains, rehab worked for him.
Nicky's legendary piano riffs and brilliant musical motifs helped ordinary tracks become extraordinary and iconic. Throughout the film, as we are introduced to Nicky, and hear the accolades and praise from legends in the industry, we still don't really realize his gift until we hear the music.
Once we begin to hear the musical contributions, on tracks like "Revolution" by The Beatles, "Sympathy For The Devil" and "Angie" by the Rolling Stones, "Jealous Guy" by John Lennon from his Imagine album and "You Are So Beautiful" by Joe Cocker, we realize this guy, as everyone said, with no ego, and called, "the real deal," by P.P. Arnold, who described him as one with "spiritual" or stratospheric talent, was more than simply a musical genius.
He took to the rock and roll era, even though he was trained in classical music, and created, along with the front men, whom every one remembers, many of the most memorable tunes, riffs, and musical stories, that shaped musical history.
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The Session Man brings together some of the most influential names in Rock 'n' Roll to celebrate the man behind the keys. The film features interviews with Bill Wyman, Keith Richards, Mick Jagger, Dave Davies, Pete Townshend, Harry Shearer, Slim Jim Phantom, Terry Reid, Peter Frampton, Benmont Tench and Graham Parker.
Recently inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Hopkins, who had told many he was the reincarnation of Frederic Chopin, was a virtuoso when it came to the piano, and whether you believe him, his prowess was undeniable.
For anyone who loves the piano, enjoys hearing the music that can be made from the ivories, and recognizes the time, talent, dedication, and effort that is necessary to be the best, will thoroughly enjoy The Session Man.
The Session Man opens in theaters across the UK November 21, 2025. It is a must see for every musician, session man, rock and roll historian, and anyone who simply loves music.
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Director: Mike Treen
Country: UK.
Language: English.
Runtime: 87 minutes.
Director: Michael Treen
Producers: Michael Treen, John Wood, Mike Sherman.
Writer: Michael Treen.
Featuring: Albert Lee, Antonia Cipollina, Arthur Rochester, Benmont Tench, Bill Wyman, Billy Nicholls, Bro Paul Brown, Chris Kimsey, Chris Welch, Chuck Leavell, Dave Davies, Glyn Johns, Graham Parker, Gray Levett, Greg Phillinganes, Harry Shearer, Helen O'Hara, Jack Casady, Jim Keltner, Joe Tansin, John Goddard, Jorma Kaukonen, Julian Dawson, Keith Richards, Merrell Fankhauser, Mick Jagger, Mike Hurst, Mike McCartney, Moira Hopkins, Morgan Fisher, Nils Lofgren, Paddy Milner, Pete Edmonds, Pete Sears, Pete Townshend, Peter Frampton, PP Arnold, Rory Kaplan, Sarah Sleet CEO of Crohn's & Colitis UK, Shel Talmy, Slim Jim Phantom, Terry Reid and Tom Speight.
Janet Walker is the publisher, founder, and sole owner of Haute-Lifestyle.com. A graduate of New York University, she has been covering international news through the Beltway Insider, a weekly review of the nation's top stories, for more than a decade. A general beat writer/reporter and entertainment/film critic, she is also an accomplished news/investigative news/crime reporter and submitted for Pulitzer Prize consideration "Cops Conspire to Deep Six Sex Assaults" in the Breaking News Category and was persuaded to withdraw the submission. Ms. Walker has completed five screenplays "The Six Sides of Truth," "The Assassins of Fifth Avenue," "The Wednesday Killer," "The Manhattan Project," and the sci-fi thriller "Project 13: The Last Day." She has also published "Unholy Alliances: A True Crime Story," and "Days, Times, Seasons, and Events: A Collection of Poetry & Prose," which can be purchased here. She is a member of the Los Angeles Press Club, the National Writers Union, and a member of the International Federation of Journalists.
